Which plants are best?
Create your own native planting
Create your own native planting |
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| Our research to date has shown which plants are most attractive to natural enemies. Over the next few years, we will be testing to see if the presence of these plants can actually increase pest control. If you would like to experiment along with us, here is some information on how to get started planting native wildflowers and grasses. How to establish There are several factors to consider before you get started. The first is whether you will use plant plugs or seed to establish your native planting. This depends on the size of the area you would like to establish and how quickly you want to see native plants flowering. Containers of rooted plant material are more expensive than seed. However, plants grown from plugs will flower in 1-2 years, while plants grown from seed will flower in 3-5 years. In addition, the time investment in planting should be taken into account. Generally, if the area is less than 500 ft², using rooted plant material is practical, and if greater than 1000 ft², you will want to plant seed unless you have irrigation and a lot of help. In areas that are seeded, rooted plant material may be used to introduce plant species that do not establish well or establish slowly from seed. Additional links for gardeners |
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| This fact sheet prepared by: Doug Landis, Anna Fiedler, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University. Please note: The information presented at this web site should be considered a guideline to be adapted for your situation. MSU makes no warranty about the use of the information presented here. Read disclaimer. | |
Web developer: J.N. Landis, MSU IPM Program. Updated: 08/10/07